Tengku Shaheera on The Fashionable Life of Interior Styling

The next generation of life stylists are redefining what makes a house a home, BAZAAR gets up close and personal.

Photography: Arrica Lee

As an ode to the final days of BAZAAR’s #InteriorsWeek and to celebrate the final day of June 2016 in high octane, BAZAAR gets personal with one part of the #DigitalDiary damsels of the Travelling Trio, Tengku Shaheera. A graduate in the field of Interior Decoration at the Inchbald School of Design and Course, London U.K, Tengku Shaheera is a globetrotter that prefers life to be ever evolving whether across her home city of Kuala Lumpur or travels to and fro her second in London. She shares with Web Editor, Aisyah Yusof her flourishing perspective on interior trends, showcasing an innate flair for colour, spatial arrangements, architecture and textiles.

BAZAAR spoke in-depth on Tengku Shaheera’s next chapter of her impending career as a professional interior designer and her dream home, rose gold taps were amidst mention when probed on her dream bathroom. #basic | Photography: Arrica Lee

In the eyes of an aspiring designer, which worldly destinations are most inspiring to you?

Capri, even though being an interior designer, I love looking at landscaping and nature. What makes a house is also their gardens. Capri’s gorgeous lemon trees and lush gardens always influences my choice of colour. Colour schemes are the root of many ideas and their beautiful use of tiling too.

Istanbul, perfect mix of modern yet cultural. The bazaars are a great place to get many ideas, from their spice markets, Turkish jewellery and clothes, sweets, and you can always find great decoration pieces for your home e.g. tea sets, carpets, fabrics, evil eye ornaments and so much more.

Lake Como, the breath-taking view of the mountain and lake. Even though it’s a really small area, it’s certainly the most charming with beautiful villas along the lake and the greenery all around. Nothing beats an Italian garden.

Top three home trends to follow?

Feature wallpaper in large bedrooms or patterned wallpaper in small bedrooms or bathrooms. It’s always a fun way of showcasing the theme of the room.

Chinese pots used as vases or decor purposes. In any home, it’s a must for me to display flowers as I always find that it makes the home fresher and inviting. Using Chinese pots in a variety of sizes and colours with the flowers makes it beautiful statement pieces indoor or outdoor.

Patterned cushions or ottomans to add a little bit of boldness in any room. They can act as a contrast to the room but still fit in as they’re small pieces dotted around.

#1. Chelsea Harbour Design Centre in London. They’re very in trend and have all the big designer names based there – the showrooms are a must to visit to get some inspiration.

#2. Maison et Objet Fair, it’s a Mecca for interior designers. I promise that you can find whatever you’re looking for there.

#3. Chelsea Flower Show, once a year the gardening and outdoor living experts come together to showcase the very best of what they have to offer.

#4. Frieze Art Fair, art is a quintessential must-have regardless of age, lifestyle, and culture. Whether you own Monet paintings or Botero sculptures. For me, Tracey Emins neon lights hits the spot, it brings a home to life.

#5. Turkish Bazaars, you can always find hidden gems within a bazaar that specialises in upscale pieces such as hand knotted carpets with in-woven gold or silk thread, which can be used as hanging art pieces. Luxury decor such as marble chess set, ornaments embellished with pearls and stones, hand-painted Ottoman-themed ceramics and unique carved tea sets and trays.

Tengku Shaheera’s family compound boats a vast and scenic ocean-like utopia with a lake overlooking her green veranda. Pets? This sassy lady has two peacocks. #basicyetagain | Photography: Arrica Lee

One colour you are obsessed with…

Shades of green, banana leaf print for pillows or ottomans to be used in an indoor/outdoor setting; mint green fabrics mixed with white, pale yellow and light grey for a calming and soothing room; and green hydrangeas to brighten up any setting.

Photography: Arrica Lee

Hair & Make Up by Philex Chin, Peekaboo

Tengku Shaheera shares with BAZAAR snippets of her mood boards, sketches and projects throughout her time in London where fabric shopping and speciality home wares hunting was part of her weekly lifestyle.

“I designed a London flat located along the Chelsea riverside for a Persian couple who are carpet dealers, art collectors, keen entertainers, with this in mind I created and curated a home based on their lifestyle traits”